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The Mad Italian

It's been four whole decades since the Mad Italian first began slingin' some of the best Italian sandwiches this side of Philly, and ever since this eatery opened its doors, folks have made pilgrimages from near and far to get a taste of the stuff.

The year 1973 was a golden age for civilization. Not only did the universe manifest treasures like this fine specimen and this little ditty—it also gave Atlanta a landmark restaurant famous for its cheese steaks, hoagies and rather dapper mustache. Indeed, it's been four whole decades since the Mad Italian first began slingin' some of the best Italian sandwiches this side of Philly (that's approximately a century-and-a-half in Atlanta restaurant years, we'll have you know), and ever since the shop opened its doors, folks have made Philly pilgrimages from near and far to get a taste of the stuff. This year, the crew that's been proudly rockin' the 'stache since '73 is celebrating a pretty big-deal birthday. And we can't think of a better way to help 'em commemorate the Big 40 than diving headfirst into one of those meaty, melty, delicious cheese steaks. (Way tastier than plain old birthday cake, we'll have you know.)

While the cheesesteaks are some of the best around, and the 'stache is certainly (ahem) part of the Mad Italian's charisma, this isn't just a place to get good grub: it's a place where the love and loyalty from regulars runs deep. For lots of folks, the "Mad I" isn't just about putting the perfect hoagie rolls on their sandwiches, or serving old-school homemade meatballs, or whipping up a creamy Italian dressing so deliciously addictive, we wouldn't mind bathing in it—it's also about the stories that are born in a place with such deep roots in the community. Of course, crack-like salad dressing and juicy, meaty sandwiches don't hurt, either, which is why some folks have driven from out-of-state just to get their paws on the goods. We suppose there's a reason some classics endure the test of time—and we're pretty sure these guys will be sticking around for quite a while.